What Is The Correct Oem Front Axle For '66 Cj5 V6 Tux?

Hi all. In my quest of trying to get to a driveable chassis this summer, I am looking for a final answer to the question of "what is the correct OEM front axle for my CJ." My serial # is 8322 A 16450.

The axle that was on it when I bought it over a decade ago was a Dana 27A, with this serial # on the tube: 9 21 5B5 2806 3. The casting around the differential says "27A" and the tag from the differential bolts says 941852 3.73 41-11. Was this the axle that it rolled off the line with?

As discussed in another thread I started last year, I'm stuck in limbo land on deciding whether to try and straighten out this bent front passenger side axle ear and run it, or to scrap the tube and get another one. The only bare 27A tube I can find in Northern California is two hours drive and $200.



In looking for a replacement, I've been told repeatedly by "professionals" that the Dana 27A with a Bendix-style passenger side shaft is not the correct axle for my year/model Jeep.


(and yes it had Warn M2 hubs on it, and the PO cut off the threaded end of the axle shaft. 4


Planning on replacing this with a Spicer-style passenger side axle shaft.

So - was this the stock factory axle?

Donny, Howard, Johns CJ5, any other experts weigh in? Thanks!

 

Pretty sure a 27A is the right axle, but it should have Spicer joints on both sides. Seems to me someone shoe-horned a Bendix axle in there for some reason on one side. Pull the diff cover off; if the ring gear is original, it will have a MFG date stamped on it. Keep in mind, the axle could have been made months prior to the actual vehicle assembly.

 

Yup Dana 27 front, Dana 44 offset rear. If v6, trans would be the T-86

 

Yes, a Dana 27a is what your '66 CJ5/Tux originally came with (same application for all small 4wd Jeeps through the 1960's). Yours should have had Spicer (cross) joints for the axle shafts. My guess is when that damaged globe/bearing recess occured, someone retrofit the earlier style Bendix inner axle.
If you have a V6, it likely came with 3.73 gears, and if F134 powered, then likely a 4.27 gear. A 4.88 was optional for either engine.
Be a little more patient, those 27a front axles are often very affordable because they get changed out to Dana 30's. Often, these are free, or nearly free. Put a WTB up in the classified section and maybe someone semi-local will have one.
-Donny

 

Thanks Tim, Beach66Bum and Donny, will do! Maybe I can make someone's day who has been looking for an original Bendix joint stubby axle for an earlier Jeep (although without threads...).

 

My understanding was the F134 could have 5.38s standard and 4.27s optional, and the V6s were 3.73 standard and 4.88 optional.

Donny is right - you should not have to pay a lot for a good Dana 27. They are an obsolete design and only have value for repair of old vehicles like yours. Free or near free from another Jeeper.

 

5.38 was the CJ standard from CJ’s inception (1945) until November of 1962 which was early in the 1963 model year.
At that time 4.27 became the standard for all F-134 cj’s.
And 5.38’ remained as a somewhat rare F134 option through 1971 CJ’s.